On August 6, 2009, Stephen left his home at Rose Hill, Wicklow town, and walked down through different walkways along the back of the town to Marlton road, where he was collected by a silver Nissan Pulsar car and driven through Redcross to Ballydonnell Wood. At the woods, Gardaí believe there was a group of suspects present. Stephen was then fatally injured, shot and buried in a shallow grave at the woods.